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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune Newsletter June 2025 Newsletter Planning Notes The Planning Department — in cooperation with all Town departments — implements the shared vision, mission, and goals aimed at ensuring that the Town of Ithaca continues to be a desirable place where any person can live, work, learn, and play, offering a vibrant mix of rural, suburban, and urban features, including treasured natural resources. Nearly half of the goals and strategies of the 2014 Comprehensive Plan are now complete; Town Planning will continue to help identify the projects, programs, policies, and services that will be the best candidates for successful implementation of the Town's vision. The Planning Department works every day to guide the long-range physical development of the Town across the Comprehensive Plan's eleven key policy areas: • Land use and development • Housing and neighborhoods • Natural resources and environment • Energy and climate protection • Agriculture • Recreation • Historical Resources • Transportation • Municipal services and infrastructure • Community services • Economic development Planning maintains the “Upcoming & Current Projects” page on the Town’s website. Look to the far right of the home page under Town Government (direct link is https://townithacany.gov/ upcoming-current-projects/). Of special note is the advancement of the East Shore Drive Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Corridor Project. This construction project - funded by NYS Department of Transportation with a 2026 completion date - will improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists on approximately 700’ of East Shore Drive (NYS-34) between Boynton Middle School and the Ithaca Youth Bureau. For more information on these projects or the Planning Department's work generally, please contact the Director of Planning C.J. Randall at 607-273-1721 x120 or cjrandall@townithacany.gov. From Left to Right: Nick Quilty –Koval, Hillary Swartwood, C.J. Randall, Michael Smith, Abby Homer, Christine Balestra CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES The Town sends congratulations and warmest wishes to all students graduating this year. What’s going on in my your neighborhood? Here is a list of current Planning projects... East Hill: • Maplewood II – A new Planned Development Zone (PDZ) covering nine acres south of Maple Avenue to allow construction of six apartment buildings containing 615 units in studio, one bedroom, and two-bedroom unit configurations. • CFCU Community Credit Union Improvements – Exterior building renovations and upgrades to the drive-through with three remote Virtual Teller Machine lanes. • Cornell University Meinig Fieldhouse – Construction is underway on the new 90,000 square foot indoor sports and recreational facility. • Cornell University Field Hockey Field – New field hockey facilities and associated improvements on Game Farm Road. Mirabito / Burger King Re-Development – Redevelopment of the existing gas station site, which also includes a convenience store and Burger King restaurant with drive-through and electric vehicle charging stations. South Hill: • Black Diamond Trail – The Town has executed a land purchase agreement for properties within the Inlet Valley to enable the full extent of the Black Diamond Trail to connect Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H. Treman State Park (Enfield Glen). • Ithaca College Running Track and Throw Fields – Construction of new athletic facilities, currently under construction. • Verizon Wireless Personal Wireless Service Facility – A new telecommunications tower proposed on Wiedmaier Court. • Comfort Inn Hotel – A new 67-room hotel located in the Inlet Valley; construction is anticipated to be underway this summer. • Self-Storage Facility – A new climate-controlled storage (and mini-storage) facility located on the corner of Elmira Road (NYS-13) and Five Mile Drive (NYS-13A) in the Inlet Valley; construction is anticipated to be underway this summer. • South Hill Recreation Way – The easement agreement NYSEG and the Towns of Caroline, Danby, Dryden, and Ithaca has been finalized. It enables the extension of the public trail from the current terminus at Burns Road an additional eight miles to the Tioga County line; grant funding for the design work is being actively pursued. West Hill: • Babcock Ridge Trail at the Culver Road Preserve – a Town-sponsored project to install new trail segments, benches, picnic tables, and formalized parking at the Town -owned preserve is advancing to the bid stage for anticipated construction in spring 2026. • Carrowmoor Solar Energy System – 5 MW single-axis sun tracking solar array on approximately 30-acres off Mecklenburg Road; construction is anticipated to be underway this summer. • Cayuga Medical Center Emergency Generator project – Installation of power infrastructure upgrades to funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve the hospital's ability to operate during extreme weather events; construction is anticipated to be underway this summer. Town of Ithaca Wins PERMA Chair Award for Exemplary Workplace Safety The Town of Ithaca is honored to announce that it has been awarded the PERMA Chair Award, recognizing its outstanding commitment to workplace safety. This prestigious award celebrates the town’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of its employees. PERMA, New York’s largest self-insured provider of workers’ compensation for public employers, announced winners of 2025 PERMA Awards in Excellence, honoring the PERMA members with the most dedicated and creative approaches to safety and wellness. Human Resources Manager, Judy Drake and Director of Public Works, Joe Slater have spearheaded initiatives that go beyond compliance, fostering a culture of safety that prioritizes the health and security of the workforce. In collaboration with PERMA, Public Employer Risk Management Association, Ithaca has implemented extensive safety training, regularly upgraded equipment, and continuously improved workplace procedures. Highlights of Ithaca’s safety initiatives include participation in OSHA’s Safe & Sound Week, specialized training in heavy equipment, trenching, and confined spaces, and the creation of a dedicated safety education space at Bolton Point through PERMA ’s Learning Center Grant. This space is equipped with modern technology to facilitate both hands-on and remote learning. Additionally, with a network of state highways and a workforce operating heavy machinery daily, the town has hosted defensive driving courses and driving simulations for both commercial and passenger vehicles. These trainings ensure that employees are engaged, equipped, and prepared for any challenges they may face. The Town of Ithaca’s proactive approach to safety has set a high standard, earning them this year’s PERMA Chair Award. This recognition underscores the town ’s dedication to creating a safe and secure work environment for all employees. About PERMA PERMA, the Public Employer Risk Management Association, Inc., is a member-owned, not-for-profit association of public entities providing risk management services and workers’ compensation coverage through a group self-insurance program. Founded in 1982, PERMA provides more than 600 public entities across New York state with a cost-effective alternative to traditional workers’ compensation programs that improve the quality of services provided to injured employees. The SPCA of Tompkins County Expands Spay/Neuter Clinics Historically the SPCA clinic only had Tuesday hours. In an effort to reduce wait times, additional appointments are now available Wednesdays and Thursdays. The program offers low cost surgeries, is open to anyone, and subsidies are available to those who need it. Fill out an application here Let Us Help Spay or Neuter Your Pet or contact our Pam at (607) 257-1822 ext. 244 or email pam@spcaonline.com About 211 Tompkins Cortland 211 connects people in need with services designed to address that need. When you contact 211, our trained and empathetic community services specialists will listen to you. They will make referrals to other service providers according to your situation. They may also follow up with you later, if appropriate, to offer more assistance. No question is too big or too small for 211. Wondering about Food Pantries in the area? Trying to find after school programs for your child? Would you like more help finding employment? Have a concern around housing or health care? We can help with all of these questions, and more. Dial 2.1.1 on your phone in Tompkins and Cortland Counties (or 1.877.211.8667 toll-free from anywhere) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to get help from a live person! The 211 Tompkins/Cortland Helpline connects people with community services. Text your zip code to TXT211 (898211). Available Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (EST), email 211 at iandr@hsctc.org, Chat with us Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (EST) right from your computer, or search our extensive database of local, state, and national programs to help you address your needs. Tutelo Park Pavillion A reservation and permit is needed for use of the Tutelo Park Pavilion. Permits are issued on a first come – first served basis and should be requested at least 48 hours in advance. Please contact the Public Works Department at 607-273-1656. Past Pages Town Historian Gary Stewart joined us last month as our Town Historian. Gary grew up a couple lakes over in Canandaigua, and has lived in the town for over 30 years. He brings with him his vast experience working in newspapers (yes, there used to be such a thing) and contacts from his decades with Cornell Community Relations that focused on outreach and collaborations with area governments, school districts, businesses, neighborhoods and other entities. Garys said “I have always been drawn to local history at the grassroots level, and many times have been a resource for area residents from all walks of life and various interests, including Town of Ithaca history, (founded in 1821, prior to my birth.:). I was a journalism major and history minor at Emerson College/Boston, and worked around the U.S. and in Russia, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. (On the latter, “history” was playing out on a daily basis, as one might imagine.) I care about the Town of Ithaca at several levels, including its interesting past, evolving economies, environmentalism, and current events. The Town’s history has reflected the best of Tompkins County and environs, including respect for its diverse citizenry, inclusive views, wonderful parks and trails, and planning tied to ever-current challenges and opportunities. If you have a question about the history of the Town, I will get you an answer in quick order. Historian@townithacany.gov TENA UPDATE One year after the original publication of our Transportation Equity Needs Assessment (TENA), we have compiled an update from transportation providers and navigators across the county. The update looks at barriers that were documented in the original assessment and shares what has been done to remedy those barriers in the past year, in addition to sharing needs that are still unmet and plans for addressing those. Please contact Courtney Horner chorner@tompkins-co.org with any questions or if you wish to learn more about transportation equity efforts in Tompkins County. Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gZLqbuuFrTseV7hx2pcxrQEwsWyppVzW/view?usp=sharing Historic Tax Credits for Homeowners City of Ithaca Historic Preservation Planner Bryan McCracken has partnered with the Preservation League of New York State, Preservation Studios, the NY State Historic Preservation Office, and Historic Ithaca to host a webinar on the NYS Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program. This 1-hour webinar will outline how the 20% tax credit program can help property owners save money on repairs and upgrades to their homes. It will cover eligibility requirements, what work qualifies for the tax credits, the application process, examples of successful projects (including his own), and plenty of time for Q&A. To learn more and register for the webinar, please visit the Preservation League of New York State's website here: https://www.preservenys.org/ calendar/historic-tax-credits-for- homeowners-ithaca Summer is Here! Let’s go for a Walk! Tutelo Park was established through an effort in the 1990’s to commemorate Coreorgonel, which was razed by Lieutenant- Colonel Henry Dearborn’s troops. The Gayogohó:nǫˀ community have a special knowledge and relationship with the forest biomes of this area over generations of experience living in the Finger Lakes and they were the first stewards of this land. Designated as the people who would welcome and host refugees, they had many towns, roads, settlements and trade routes throughout the Finger Lakes region. The Deyodi:ho:nǫˀ (commonly known as Tutelo) were welcomed here as refugees of white settlement in Virginia and South Carolina, and they settled at the southern end of Cayuga Lake, opposite the inlet of Buttermilk Falls, calling their town Coreorgonel. This Ethnobotranic Plant Walk project was co-created with Michael Roberts of the Town’s Conservation Board and Steve Henhawk, a local Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ citizen, with the goal of giving those who walk the trail a bit of the history of this place, these plants, and how both are still relevant within the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ culture. The Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ people, like these plants, continue to thrive in the Finger Lakes today. *Additional information and past programs of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ. Ethnobotanic Plant Walk NY State Parks Wellness Challenge 2025 We’re excited to introduce the NY State Parks Wellness Challenge for the 2025 season! Throughout the year, immerse yourself in all kinds of wellness activities at state parks and historic sites across the Empire State. From trying your hand at yo- ga to engaging your senses to packing a picnic, achieve wellness through a variety of ways in the outdoors. Download the checklist here or pick one up at your local state park or historic site. Start completing missions! Each mission equals 1 point. When you’ve completed 25 missions and achieved 25 points, you’ve earned your special edition sticker. “Color Our World” Summer Reading Kickoff Join Tompkins County Public Library this summer for a chance at adventure, expression, creativity and lasting memories. Summer Reading kicks off Friday, June 13 with a Crafternoon and Celebration from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the Library’s Avenue of the Friends. The celebration will include music, snacks, crafts and free books. TCAT SUMMER SERVICE STARTED May 25, 2025 TCAT’s summer 2025 service will be in effect Sun., May 25 through Sat., Aug. 16. Click here for the 2025 Summer Ride Guide. Riders can expect typical reductions due to students leaving town for summer break. Additionally, planners relocated a few bus stops and adjusted timing on almost every route. “Our aim is to improve route safety, efficiency and to adjust our schedules to meet growing road congestion concerns,” said TCAT Planning and Scheduling Manager Trevor Jensen. “We strongly encourage riders to check our website for updated schedules before the new service period starts to avoid any last-minute confusion.”